Refrigerating system.



No. 697,029. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

- W. F. SINGER.

BEFRIGERATING SYSTENL. (Apglication fild Nov. 15, 1900.

(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES.

THE Nonms PETERS co. PuorMlTMQ. WASNINUTON. n. c.,

No. 697,029. Patented Apr. 8, i902.

w. F; SINGER.

BEFRIGERATING SYSTEM.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES. INVENTOIIR.

QM M

w: NORRIS PEYERS ca. moToungon WMH NOYON, b. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE.

\VILLIAM F. SINGER, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER AUTOMATIC ICE MACHINE CO., OF JERSEY CITY, NEIV JERSEY.

REFRIGERATINGS-YSTEM.

.sPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,029, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed November 15, 1900. Serial No. 36,615. (No model.)

To (all whom it 72mg concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SINGER, a citizen of the United States,residingat Fourth avenue and 'Iwenty-eighth street, New York city, State of New York, have invented a new: and useful Improvement in Refrigerating Systoms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to circulatory systems in which a gas is condensed or liquefied, the heat of condensation abstracted, and the fluid admitted under reduced pressure to a coil of pipe or the like, where it rapidly absorbs heat units from the surrounding atmosphere or other fluid. It is intended to render such systems automatic in their action and generally to conduce to their economy and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures I and II represent in elevation opposite sides of a refrigerating system embodying my invention. Fig. III is a vertical section of a part of my device on an enlarged scale.

In the example of myinvention illustrated the pump 1 is of any desired or well-known form and is provided with a gas-outlet pipe 11 and water-jacket 12. The jacket is fed through pipe 13 and the water led therefrom by pipe 14. to the condenser-tank 3. The motor 2 is shown as directly connected with the pump, both standing on the condenser-tank 3 as a base. Beneath the condenser-tank is a gas-container a, from which leads a servicepipe 5. The pipe system 5 may be a coil or series of coils and may be placed in a refrigerator, as shown. For that portion of the pipe system 5 within the refrigerating-compartment may be substituted any other wellknown form of expansion-chainber to which the portion of the pipe system which leads from the compartment or chill-room would serve as an exhaust-pipe. The pipe system 5 returns and feeds the pump 1, as shown. A hand-operated pressure-reducing valve 51, which I will hereinafter designate as an expansion-valve, is placed in the pipe 5 near the container at. A similar hand-valve 52 may be used near the pump-feed. A thermostat 6 is placed within the cool room and wired to the switch 7, which is in turn wired to the motor 2. An automatic fluid-controlling valve 8 is placed in the pipe 5 near the container 4 and connected by a tube 81 to the pipe system above the reduction-valve 51. The valve 8 is clearly shown in Fig. III of the drawings. It consists of a dome S2, suitably supported, a flexible diaphragm 83, secured at its periphery to the dome and form ing therewith a fluid-chamber, a stem 84,

whose end enters the valve-seat, a liftingspring 85, and a nut 86. A similar valve 9 is connected with the water-supply tube 13 and is also connected by means of a tube 01 with the end of the pipe system 5 near its ontrance to the pump 1.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawlugs.

As the particular construction of the pump 1 forms the subject of certain applications for patents concurrent herewith, I havenot here particularly described it.

It is clear that when the motor 2 is running the pump 1 will compress in practice to the point of liquefaction the refrigerating-gas employed and will deliver the fluid through the pipe 11 to the condenser 3. Thence the fluid passes through the container a and through the circulatory pipe system 5 5 back to the pump 1, and so on in continuous circulation. By nearly closing the expansionvalve 51, so as to permit the passage of a very small volume of the refrigerating fluid,it instantly expands into a gas or vapor, so that the portion of the pipe system 5 beyond the valve 51 is thus converted into a refrigerating coil or gas-chamber. The hand-valve 52 may be closed when it is desired to disconnect any part of the pipe system 5. The function of the thermostat 6 is to operate the switch 7 so as to stop and start the motor 2 as the temperature of the cool room lowers to its predetermined minimum or rises to its maximum point. As a further preventive of a dangerous increase of temperature in the cool room the fluid-controlling valve 8 is interposed between the container 1 and the expansion-valve 51. The gas-chamber of the It is clear that mand varies.

the greater the reduction ingas-pressure from the container 4: to the pipe system 5 the more rapid will be the absorption of heat in the cool room. In other words, the pressure .in the container beingpractically constantthe temperature of the cool room or brinebath will vary inversely as the pressure in the pipe system beyond the valves 8 and 51. It is clearthat an outward movement of the diaphragm S3, acting against the thrustspring 8.5, will partially close the valve by means of the stem 84, and that, conversely, a decrease of pressure in the system 5 will act to raise the diaphragm and open the valve. At the same time a similar automatic valve 9 serves to regulate-i. e., increase or'd'e creasethe supply of cooling-water to the pump-jacket 12 and condenser 2 as the de- In other words, the entire or partial closing of the fluid-controlling valve 8, serving to cut off or to decrease the fluid flow through the pipe system 5, necessarily takes away or reduces the duty of the compressor 1 and the demand for a supply of cooling-water. The valves 8 and 9 being connected to the same pipe system 5 and subjected to the same pressure act together, the one incidenof fluid furnished for refrigeration, an exactness of temperature in the cool room may be maintained which is impossible where either a hand-valve or an automatic governor-alone is employed. It is clear that this advantage is gained by positioning the automatic fluidc'ontrolling valve 8 so that it acts to check the flow of the fluid under condenser-pressureand is itself acted upon bythe fluid under reduced or chill-room pressure'--e. 9., so that the expansion-valve 51 is between the seat of the fluid-controlling valve 8 and the tube 81, by which pressure is conveyed to the outer side of its diaphragm 83. If it were so placed that both sides of the diaphragm were exposed to either the compressor or to the chill-room pressure,the valve would of course be inoperative.

To avoid waste of condensing-water, which is a considerable item of cost in refrigeration, it is of great importance that the water-supply valve be closed simultaneously with the gas-controlling valve immediately the compressor is stopped. It is a feature of my invention that these two valves are opened and closed by precisely the same means. This, as shown, is an equal fluid-pressure in an integral pipe system. For convenience I have used as a unitary or integral means of maintaining this variable but equal pressure on the two valves the expansion portion of the pipe system 5. In a prior construction valves having a similar function are connected one to the expansion the other to the compression side of the system. The cardinal objection to this arrangement is that the pressures on these two sides are not only unequal, but that they have no constant relation to each othere. 9., their sum is not a constant. This is due to losses of fluid, both by leakage and, in the case of ammonia, by disasseciation. In practice these losses would be quite sufficient to require frequent adjustments of one or both valves to secure even an approximation to simultaneous action. As.

the Valves are delicate of adjustment and as they are themselves sources of possible leakage, it is desirable that they be interfered with as little as possible.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a refrigerating system and in combination, a gas-compressor, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, means for removing the heat of compression, an expansion-valve in said pipe system whereby expansion of the contained flnidis permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond said valve converted into a refrigerating coil or chamber and means interposed between said compressor and said expansion-valve and connected with and operated by the reduced pressure in said refrigerating-coil for regulating the flow of fluid through said system, substantially as described.

2. In a refrigerating system and in combination, a gas-compressor, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, means for removing the heat of compression, an expansion-valve in said pipe system whereby expansion of the contained fluid is permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond said valve converted into a refrigerating coil or chamber, a fluid-controlling valve in said pipe system between said compressor and said expansion-valve and a tube connecting said refrigerating-coil with said fluid-controlling valve whereby the flow of fluid through said system is automatically regulated by variations of pressure in said refrigerating-coil, substantially as described.

3. In a refrigerating system and in combination, a gas-compressor, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, means for removing the heat of compression, an expansion-valve in said pipe system whereby expansion of the controlled fluid is permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond said valve converted into a refrigerating coil or chamber, a fluid-controlling valve in said pipe system between said compressor and said expansion-valve, a diaphragm operating said fluid-controlling valve and a tube connecting said refrigerating-coil with'the diaphragmchamber of said fluid-controlling valve whereby the flow of fluid through said system is au 4. In a refrigerating system and in combination, a gas-compressor, a cooling-jacketsurrounding said compressor, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, an expansionwalve in said pipe system whereby.

expansion of the contained fluid is permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond said valve converted into a refrigerating coil or chamber and means automatically operated by variations of pressure in said refrigeratingcoil for regulating the supply of water to said cooling-jacket, substantially as described. o. In a refrigerating system and in combination a gas-compressor, a cooling-jacket surrounding said compressor, a condenser, a pipe leading from said cooling-jacket to said condenser, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, an expansion-valve in said pipe system whereby expansion of the contained fluid is permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond saidvalve converted into arefrigerating coil or chamber and means automatically operated by variations of pressure in said refrigerating-coil for regulating the supply of water to said cooling-jacket and condenser, substantially as described.

(3. In a refrigerating system and in combination,a gas-compressor,a cooling-jacket surrounding said compressor, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, an expansion-valve in said pipe system whereby expansion of the contained fluid is permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond.

said valve converted into a refrigerating coil or chamber, a feed-pipe leading to said cooling-jacket, an automatic valve insaid feedpipe and a tube connecting said refrigeratingcoil with said valve whereby the supply of water to said cooling-jacket is automatically regulated by variations of pressure in said refrigerating-coil, substantially as described.

7. In a refrigerating system and in combination,a gas-compressor, a cooling-jacket surrounding said compressor, a condenser, a pipe leading from said cooling-jacket to said condenser, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, an expansion-valve in said system whereby expansion of the contained fluid is permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond said valve converted into a refrigerating coil or chamber, a feed-pipe leading to said cooling-jacket, an automatic valve in said feed-pipe and a tube connecting said refrigerating-coil with said valvewhereby the supply of water to said cooling-jacket and condenser is automatically regulated by variations of pressure in said refrigeratingcoil, substantially as described.

8. In a refrigerating system and in combination, a gas-compressor, a circulatory pipe system leading into said compressor, a cooling-jacket surrounding said.compressor, an expansion-valve in said pipe system whereby expansion of. the contained lluid is permitted and the portionof said pipe system beyond said valve is converted, into a refrigerating coil or chamber, means interposed between said compressor and said expansion-valve for automatically regulating the flow of fluid through said system and means for automatically regulating the flow of water for cooling and condensing the refrigerating-gas, both said means being connected with and operated by variations of pressure in said refrigerating-coil, substantially as described.

9. In a refrigerating system and in combination, a gas-compressor, aeirculatory pipe system leading into said compressor, a cooling-jacket surrounding saidcompressor, an expansion-valve in said pipe system whereby expansion of the contained fluid is permitted and the portion of said pipe system beyond said valve is convertedinto a refrigerating coil or chamber, an automatic valve interposed between said compressor and said expansion-valve for regulating the flow of fluid throughsaid system and an automatic valve for regulating the flow of water for cooling and condensing the refrigerating-gas, both said valves being connected with and operated by variations of pressure in said refrigerating-coil, substantially as described.

10. In refrigerating apparatus the combination with a compartment of an expansionchamber within said compartment, valve mechanism for controlling the entrance of fluid to said expansion-chamber, an exhaust- .pipe leading fromthe expansion-chamber, a

pump connected to said exhaust-pipe, a regulator also connected tosaid exhaust-pipe, a condenser, a tank in which said condenser 1s located, means for supplying water to said tank, a valve in thewater-supply means and devices controlled by the regulator for actuating said valve.

11. Arefrigerating system comprisinga gascompressor,an expansion coilor chamber, a pipe adapted to convey refrigerating fluid to said expansion-coil, a pipe adapted to convey water to cool and condense the gas, valves in each of said pipes and an integral means acting simultaneously and equally upon saidvalves whereby the flow of refrigerating-gas and the flow of water maybe stopped and started antomatically and at substantially the same time.

12. A refrigerating system comprising a gascompressor, an expansion coilor chamber, a pipe adapted to convey refrigerating fluid to said expansion-coil, a pipe adapted to convey water to cool and condense the gas,diaphragmvalves ineach of. said pipes the diaphragmchambers of said valves being connectedto the same portion of a pipe system and means actin g simultaneously upon said valves through said pipe system whereby the flow of refrigerating-gas and the flow of Water may be stopped and started automatically and at substantially the same time.

13. A refrigerating system comprising a gas compressor, an expansion coil or chamber, a

pipe adapted to convey refrigerating fluid to said expansion-coil, a pipe adapted to convey water to cool and condense the gas, valves in each of said pipes operatively connected to a single fluid-container so as to be equally subject to variations of pressure therein and thermostatically-controlled means for varying the of said compressor acts toopen or close said valves at substantially the same time.

15. A refrigerating system comprising a gas compressor, a compartment, an expansion coil or chamber insaid compartment, means operated by a thermostat in said compartment for starting and stopping said compressor, a pipe adapted to convey refrigerating fluid to said expansion-coil, a-pipe adapted to convey Water to cool and condense the gas, valves in each of said pipes and connected with said expansion-coil whereby a variation of pressure in said coil caused by the starting or stopping of said compressor acts to open or close said valves at substantially the same 35 

